# compendium

/kəmˈpɛndiəm/ (US) · /kəmpˈɛndiəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compendium
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a collection of information or facts about a specific subject, usually found in one book. It is a short but complete summary of a larger topic.

For teachers: a concise but comprehensive collection of information or a detailed summary of a particular subject. Often refers to a single-volume work that gathers diverse materials into a systematic arrangement.

## Examples

- The book is a useful compendium of local history.
- The researcher published a compendium of all known medicinal plants found in the Amazon rainforest.
- This digital archive serves as a vast compendium of 18th-century legal documents, providing scholars with a centralized resource for comparative analysis across different jurisdictions.

## Usage notes

- The plural form can be either 'compendiums' or 'compendia'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.